Editor’s Note:
An abiding passion for the arts is a common thread running through our Terakeet culture. We’ve been able to feed that love through an evolving office art collection and virtual gallery, along with corporate art sponsorships and employee initiatives. While we’re all remote, these virtual experiences help to keep us all connected.
One important step towards art patronage for us as a company was an earlier move to get a large collection of artwork displayed in our Armory Square offices, with the help of Pat and Shane Lavalette from Light Work. Our vision for this ever-evolving gallery is to support the work of local artists while fostering a sense of community in the workplace.
In early March, we established a corporate membership with the Everson Museum of Art in an effort to extend access to art to all our employees and their families. As much as we know how much our ‘Keeters were looking forward to checking out the museum’s many exhibits (and don’t forget the gift shop), life had other plans. With the threat of COVID-19 looming, many businesses that previously thrived upon face-to-face, personal experiences were forced to close their doors to the public. However, what we’ve seen is an incredible paradigm shift towards technology-enabled experiences, both in the professional and personal spheres. Institutions like the Everson offer a wide range of virtual tours, downloadable resources, and other forms of content that help people stay connected from anywhere they choose.
Similarly, we didn’t want our employees to lose access to the curated collection that has become a cultural touchpoint and conversation builder for so many in our company. That’s one of the reasons we also exhibit our permanent collection and new exhibitions digitally in this virtual gallery.
Recently, our Co-Founder Pat Danial acquired a pair of pieces from Syracuse-based artist and illustrator Jaleel Campbell. Jaleel’s art evokes powerful memories of family, history, and community across a broad range of mediums — from video work that captures the beauty and essence of Black life and culture — to illustrations that showcase underrepresented experiences, and handcrafted dolls that remind us of those that have come before.
We are beyond honored to add some of Jaleel’s pieces to Terakeet’s physical collection and provide the experience to interact with his work and others in our virtual gallery while we all can’t be in the office together. This week, we asked a few ‘Keeters to visit our virtual art gallery and tell us a bit about the experience. Read some of their thoughts below!
Q1. What is your favorite piece of work in the Terakeet art collection and why?
Nick Friedman (Digital Content Training Manager):
“Miki Soejima’s “Still Life 04” for the way it brings a light touch (the inviting pastels, for example) to bear on a serious concern: the US’s history of nuclear aggression and current nuclear proliferation. The image is beautiful, almost saccharine, and this is ultimately the source of its bitterness and strength.”
Danelle Sims (Digital Outreach Specialist):
“Tony Gleaton’s “Hija de Jesus” is my favorite because of its simplicity and its tie to the artist’s larger purpose to showcase the beauty in the African-inspired cultures that now exist in the Americas. I think the photo speaks to several things. First, many African-influenced cultures consider hair to be a large component of the culture which, of course, is highlighted in this photo as a form of beauty. But it also makes you think about why we consider long hair to be a signal of beauty in any culture. I also think that the photo unintentionally shows the connection between ethnicities/cultures because it’s unclear what race the girl in the photo is just by looking at it. There are women in Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia all with this same hair texture so it shows just how similar we are and how beauty can be found in any race/culture.”
Gina Decicco (Digital Content Specialist):
“Filippo Minelli’s “Shape B/B” is my favorite. I am not an art connoisseur by any means and don’t have a heavy history in art education. However, when I see a piece of art I like, I always do try to figure out what about it draws me to it and why I chose this specific piece. For this piece, I love the juxtaposition of the bright, colorful smoke and the sepia greys of the industrial background. It reminds me of “The Giver” in that the color feels like a pop of some hidden truth in an otherwise dark and colorless world.”
Q2. What period/style/type of art do you typically like?
Nick Friedman:
“Dutch Golden Age”
Danelle Sims:
“My favorite style of art is photography.”
Gina Decicco:
“I always find myself most interested in independent artists who pour their lives into their creations. It doesn’t matter necessarily if it’s photography, paintings, sculptures, crocheted hats, and scarves, or making music, I am endlessly fascinated by the level of skill and bravery it takes to create and share art.”
Q3. Do you visit any local art museums or art events?
Nick Friedman:
“The Everson”
Danelle Sims:
“The Everson Museum [and the] Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival”
Gina Decicco:
“Not often. I always go to the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival and I follow a lot of artist profiles on social media.”
Q4. How is art important to the Terakeet work culture?
Nick Friedman:
“To paraphrase an idea that James Longenbach brings to poetry, by threatening to seem beside the point, good art commands its importance — and, likewise, our attention. In this way, art has little — and quite a lot — to do with Terakeet’s work culture.”
Danelle Sims:
“I think it’s very important. For me personally, I’ve never worked somewhere that invested in local artists and their talents. So, to see art, of all different types, displayed in the office was such a great surprise. I most definitely work better in environments I’m inspired by, so I think including art in the workplace could help with sparking creativity and productivity in employees.”
Gina Decicco:
“I think a lot of the Terakeet employees are creators. We’re writers, singers, photographers, painters, and so many other interpretations of art. Seeing the love for art and the support of local artists by Terakeet as a company not only allows us the opportunity to appreciate other artists, but it encourages us to create and share our own art as well.”